October 17, 2018
Today marks a historic day in Canada, cannabis is now legal.
With legalization of cannabis in effect, it is important to increase awareness about the harms that can be associated with use for youth.
AMHO and the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health have collaborated to examine the links between cannabis use and youth mental health. AMHO’s latest Snapshot: Cannabis Use and Mental Health shares findings from a youth and parent survey that should inform public education, and provides a set of recommendations and best practices for cannabis use prevention and intervention programs.
The Ontario Medical Association estimates that 17-25% of teenagers who use cannabis will progress to problematic use or dependence. Evidence-based education, prevention and intervention programs with a multi-faceted approach where youth receive coordinated messaging have been proven to be the most successful. School, family, community, peers and online programs all play an important role.
Last week, AMHO had an opportunity to present to the Standing Committee on Social Policy concerning Bill 36, the Cannabis Statute Law Amendment Act. In our submission, we stress the importance of using an evidence-based approach to address the harms associated with cannabis use, along with a rigorous and long-term public awareness campaign. Read about it here.
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